After seeing how poorly his attempt to counter the traveling bards words he goes to meet the others again. "Perhaps I should attempt to speak with him? Politeness might be all that's required to get his words to stop."
"I doubt you could make the situation worse. Just don't offer him anything of value. Last thing we need are more such malcontents springing up like weeds thinking they can extort the Kingdom's treasury with song. We have a green dragon for that."
You hear that Grigori is wiping up a rabble with leader hate at the town commons. When you get there you find a large crowd people surrounding a soap box with Grigori. Every now and then you hear a "hear hear" or "that's true" from the crowd.
"-and for another thing they are grossly negligence. Alway going gallivanting through the Narlmarches on fool’s errands and leaving the town exposed to banditry, monster attacks, and worse. In fact I bet the werewolf attacks were caused by them stirring up the wildlife."
Riva find herself fascinated with the bards word and stance she can think about anything else.
As they approach, Adular places a hand on Rory's shoulder.
"You'd lose money on that bet, whoever you are. And what's this about banditry? I don't recall YOU being there when we took down the stag lord, loudmouth. You're all bluster and no scars to show as far as I can see, stranger," The priest looks at the crowd, "And what in the Abyss are you all doing so eager to badmouth those who've been bleeding for you. You all have more sense than this. You know we're not just exploring for giggles here. A young nation needs territory and resources, places some of you can settle if you want... resources you can use for your craft and trade. Don't let this all too conveniently arrived stranger with an unknown agenda flim flam you into hateful action and twisted thoughts."
"So you say that most violent and blood thirsty should be in charge. Leadership is a matter of the strong ruling over the weak. But I guess you would think that priest of the War god."
Adular snorts at the obvious baiting, "Pfft, don't put your hand up my ass in an attempt to make my mouth move, you swindler. I'm saying your accusations that we don't care for the land and people we've bled for are falsehoods. As for my god, you clearly don't know much. My god admires strength, power, BUT the choice to use it for good or evil is up to the individual. I choose to use it developing this nation and helping people. You? I see a man of talk who doesn't DO anything. You've got a skilled tongue, but so does a con artist."
"Why do you keep bringing up the beating stag lord an event that we only have your word for and even if true would only show you to the brute who replaced him."
"Kingdoms are built on hard work and risk too. I've seen these people work hard, you? You apparently blow wind and hope no one notices how empty you are."
MAllichatti keeps his council for now muttering quietly how in Cheliax they'd all be in the flower garden in the morning.
And then he says. "Weren't you guys given sovereignty by Restov, the swordlords? I think I remember looking up the charters in the records out of boredom."
Mallichatti, all 6ft. of scars, muscles, and metal of Mallichatti, makes for the bar. "I'm going to have a drink. All I ask is for everyone to behave and gripe peacefully to your leaders. Not in the mood to work tonight."
Rory approaches the bard and listens to his words. When he and Adular finish their quarrel, he chimes in. "You're right to a degree, Grigori. Might doesn't make right, despite with my Gorumite friend says. Yes we defeated the Stag Lord, you say you wish for proof, we have his helm mounted up in the stag's tavern. It radiates necrotic energy which is why none of us touch it more than the occasional cleaning. Our very keep is his old stronghold. We're still finding things that he and his horde left behind. You're more than welcome to see for yourself, just send me a letter and I'll arrange a tour.
"But that alone doesn't determine us as leaders. What does determine our leadership is that we're the surviving team that Brevoy sent out to start a nation. They recognized our right to rule the moment the Stag Lord fell. We're the ones who forged a peace between the hunters and newly forged city with the Sootscale tribe. We're the ones who've sweat and bleed for the safety of the city. Did we attract the werewolf here, I can't say. Maybe? But we took care of him before he could kill again. The blood of those he killed are on our hands, I know that. It pains me, but I move on. I can't dwell on the deaths of two people when more than two hundred still rely on me."
Riva stands fascinated, simply taking it all in, as the young men surrounding her measure themselves against one another.
"If you are going to go galavanting in the wilderness. Maybe you should step down to being simple explorers and let people more suited and more dedicated rule."
Adular scoffs, "You do know the council is bigger than four people, right? Other members of it were indeed right here...and you must be either dim or hard of hearing if you didn't get from what I said earlier that there's a big difference between 'galavanting' without purpose and exploring to make places safer for a young nation and give folks the resources they'll need."
MAllichatti laughs. It's a loud unpleasant laugh that ses him covering his face on the bar. "And I guess you're about to say that should be you?" Then Mallichatti points to a random mob member. "Or is it you? Or you!?!" He points to another. "When the green b#~&$ of the forest comes calling and spits acid into your face are you going to draw your vorpal blade and go snicker snack or die horribly like anyone else? Fit to rule. Ha! I've been in enough so called rebel groups to see where that goes."
Aid another diplomacy.
"Those 4 people include the king, high priest and the treasury."
However despite his efforts people in the crowd seem to be stirring.
Seeing that his is losing ground Grigori make an elegant flourish with his cape and strides away.
Adular snorts as Grigori leaves, "That was the most fancy way to slink away I've seen in awhile."
"He's going to be back. Notice he didn't mention WHY he felt our kingdom needed his expert advice above all others in the world? I don't know what game he's playing and why, but he has an agenda, and I'd bet my best sword that it isn't altruistically motivated."
"I hate to say this, but perhaps we should attempt to find him and speak to him without the pressure of a crowd of citizens. Perhaps we can find out exactly what's driving him then."
Snapping out of her trance, Riva offers a suggestion: "If Grigori attempts to rile up a mob like that again in the future, I propose we bring Rory's actors and Adular's temple followers along. They can help testify to the strength of this city's leaders. Strength in numbers applies to words and shouts just as readily as it does fighting."
Hoping to further impress upon the crowd the importance of their leadership, Riva continues speaking to any still around willing to listen. "How many youths might be on the street, turning to crime for entertainment and coin, if not for the theater Rory built to make their days more filling? How many citizens might now be dead if they hadn't been taught to protect themselves from the many dangers of the Stolen Lands by Gorum's acolytes at the temple Adular built? How many of Allania's children would remain simpletons unable to conceive of a larger world, a brighter future, for themselves without my school? We've done much to help the people of this city, and before our time is done, we will do much more."
"You can just arrest him for inciting a riot next time." MAllichatti says finishing his drink and paying for it wiht a friendly nod to the bartender. "Doesn't matter what his gripe is. He's f~%*ing with the civil order agenda or no."
"The River Kingdoms have some strong traditions about their right to speak their minds so it's a tricky one to enforce. I suppose we should check with the books to see what laws we have on them for this purpose. I prefer as few laws as possible, but it's people like that that make them somewhat needed." He says to Mallichatti.
To the people, if there are still some around listening to Riva, he says, "Riva's right... the coin she's put to work has been often for the good of the public. I've never seen her deny anyone a chance to better themselves with knowledge and so on. Me? I think my church's efforts have spoken for themselves. We have an area where any warrior can come in and start to train, and any non warrior can try to learn how to BE a warrior. Do those sound like the acts of tyrants to you lot?"
"We're not in the River Kingdoms." MAllichatti says matter of factly. "Last I checked this place was funded and organized by Restov, which is a part of Brevoy. Swordlords settle their disputes by blood duel. Kind of why I had to leave when I went through."
"Yes, no denying, but as much as I wish it otherwise, River Kingdom culture influences our citizenry... mmm blood duels. I wonder if I can set the arena up as a court house for trail by blood? I suppose rory would have a problem with that though," He sighs
"You're right I'd have a probably with that. We don't need to kill him. I'm sure we can find some other way to deal with him." Rory says to the squabbling Mal and Adular.
"Well, I would like Riva to check out what magic he has going, or might have wearing if she can do so without being found out. I don't put it past that greasy son of a goat to be messing with peoples minds by the arcane as well as just smooth talking. I could be wrong, but it wouldn't surprise me," Adular states, "As for dealing with him, Mallchatti brought up a good point earlier about inciting a riot. Do we have a law on the books like that? I don't like playing legal eagle, but since I doubt I can get the fink to draw his blade and accept a duel, we may have to rely on it."
"Would we not be better served by setting our spymaster, Sir Eldric Lorren, to such a task?"
"Good point, best put him to work." A chuckle.
A Kobold delivers a burnt boot over to the castle. You recognize it as Eric's. There is a note inside.
Someone was poking their nose where it didn't belong. Don't worry I'm willing to overlook it.--Lady Greengrass
"I suppose it's a good thing not many people knew of him or his duties. It would not bode well for the populace to learn that the dragon has begun gobbling up their leaders."
"Eldric fought by our side... maybe not right away, but I intend the dragon to die for this," The cleric glowers angrily.
The next day Grigori has brought together another crowd.
"...Of course despise there bullying ways they are also a bunch of chickens. Look how they keep paying tribute to that dragon. It's shameful."
Rory was out with Selene when he took notice of Grigori's return. His eye's narrowed when he heard him mention the tributes they paid towards "Lady" Greenscale. Selene placed a hand on his chest and said, "Rory, calm down. He's not worth it." "But how does he know about that. I was positive the tribute was portrayed as trade between us and another settlement." Rory said back. "Bring it up to the others. Hey, look at me." Selene forcibly took Rory's gaze onto her. "He's not worth it. You'll only play into his hands if you confront him alone." Rory let out a long sigh and kissed her forehead. "You're right. We should find the others and speak with them."
"Are you certain that's what he said?" exclaimed Riva. "How dare he! And in light of our recent friend's demise no less! We need to track down his sources, find out what he knows and how he knows it. I say we put a tail on him. For all we know, he is an agent of Lady--"
"Pukescale!" interjected Riva's adopted daughter from behind her legs.
"Yes, quite right, my dear...Please excuse the interruption gentlemen. As my apprentice, I thought it best for her to begin learning how matters of state are handled. I'll send her off to bed. Had I known we would be discussing such sensitive matters tonight, I would have thought better of bringing her along."
Riva departs momentarily, to pass young Tarka off to a nearby servant.
"Yes, as soon as we find out where he's staying we need to confront him without the masses and question him. I no longer believe this man is working alone, someone is guiding him to our must vulnerable spots. Do you believe it could be Lady Greenscale trying to rid of us?"
"It could be Greengrass. She did know, but I don't see any motive. Also she does not seem to be the most subtle creature. She has been fairly upfront about what she wants. I think she just does not think enough of us to be worth it."
"Then it seems we may have another enemy to be wary of. I want top men shadowing Grigori. They are to remain hidden and return to us when they have located his residence."
"You know we can just arrest him the first time one of his crowdn does something stupid right? You guys are the rulers of this little place right? In the mean time I've still go images of a man impaled on a table etched into my brain."
"That may be, but I rather get him before that happens and I want to be sure we have just reason for it. With the way he has the people now, if we just arrest him we'll lose some of their support."
"I'm halfway thinking we could arrest him for spying. Like others have said, he's got to get his sources somehow," Adular says, a scowl on his face, "Caught between a silver tongued saboteur and a bored dragon... I'm starting to think blades being forged have it easy."
"He'll need a trial. The people seem to love him and his stories and we need to show them the truth. This will not end well no mater what we try him for as it will enviably end with our own flaws being brought into the public view." Rory said after a brief moment of silence. "I don't suppose Gorum has any words of advice for a situation like this that would help us."
"So what then, is our plan of action, if any? Talking in circle gets us nothing and nowhere."
Rory sat at the head of the table, hands folded in front of his face as he stared into the abyss in thought. It took a moment for him to collect his thoughts and speak them aloud to the others. It was not an easy thing for him to say. "We arrest him on counts of of espionage and question him on his sources. He is to hold trial which will be open to the public. He will receive a fair trial. If this trial airs our secrets... well lets hope the people will still trust us afterwards."
"So we put a man on trial and we end up on trial as well? You best find yourself a stern judge who'll not let him speak unless asked a direct question first."
"I recommend charging him with sedition. It is no secret he has tried to turn the people's love away from their government. However, there is no evidence yet of him having committed any treasonous acts--such a charge will likely fall flat on its face and prove us all fools. Best to launch an investigation first. In the meantime, Marshal Sootscale and a contingent of town guards should handle the arrest. You should go with them as well, Mallichatti, to ensure nothing goes wrong."